How I did it: In a word: drugs. I've been extremely reluctant to take antidepressants for my chronic depression because I heard all the horror stories about endless trials and bad side effects. But getting fibromyalgia forced my hand; I had to try a bunch of neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitors because they're the first line of treatment for fibro. In addition to alleviating the pain, they also lifted my mood. Since I'm probably going to have to take pills for the rest of my life anyhow, I'm more okay with this than I was in the past.

Lessons & tips: I'm still a big proponent of proper nutrition as the first line of defense. Fresh veggies and supplementing your diet with extra Omega-3 fatty acids does a lot, and is still an important facet of how I manage my mood. If you go the drugs route, keep a written record of how your body reacts: side effects, feelings, sleep patterns, etc. Compare notes if you have to go through more than one type of drug, drug combo, or dosage level. It makes it easier to talk to your doctor about concerns you have about various treatment regimens.

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Jun 13, 2009, 08:06PM PDT | 0 comments | 2 cheers